Liquid and liquid additive dispensing means



Feb. 1, 1966 MccLURE 3,232,490

LIQUID AND LIQUID ADDITIVE DISPENSING MEANS Filed July 28, 1964 INVENTOR James M. McClure United States Patent 3,232,490 LIQUID AND LIQUID ADDITIVE DESEENSENG MEANS James M. Mctllure, 4652 Maulden Lane, Dallas, Tex. Filed July 28, 1964, Ser. No. 385,707 2 Claims. (Cl. 222-435) This invention relates to dispensing devices and more particularly to a liquid dispensing device having means for selectively admixing a substance, such as a detergent, into the liquid being dispensed thereby.

An object of this invention is to provide a new and improved dispensing device having a pump for forcibly expelling a liquid through a nozzle and a means for admixing a substance, such as a detergent into the liquid upstream of the pump whereby the detergent is thoroughly mixed with the liquid as they move through the pump.

Still another object is to provide a dispensing device having a storage tank for the detergent and conduit means connecting the storage tank to the inlet of the pump through which the detergent from the storage tank can be withdrawn and mixed with the water.

Still another object is to provide a dispensing device having means for introducing liquid into the storage tank to help displace the detergent from the tank.

A further object is to provide a dispensing device for admixing a substance, such as detergent, into a liquid flowing through the passage of the conduit which includes a closed storage tank for the detergent, duct means com: municating the upper end of the tank with the conduit passage for admitting liquid into the upper end of the tank from the conduit, and outlet means on the tank for permitting flow of the detergent from the lower end of the tank.

A still further object is to provide a dispensing means wherein the outlet means of the tank is connected to the conduit downstream of the location of the communica tion of the duct means with the conduit passage.

Still a further object is to provide a dispensing device wherein the conduit and the outlet means of the tank are connected to the inlet of a pump whereby the detergent is thoroughly mixed with the liquid in moving therewith through the pump.

A still further object is to provide a dispensing device wherein the tank outlet means is provided with valve means for selectively controlling and regulating flow of the detergent from the tank.

Another object is to provide a new and improved mobile dispensing device wherein the storage tank, the pump and the motor for driving the pump are mounted on a horizontal base provided with wheel means by which the device may be moved from one location to another.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent from the reading of the following description of a device constructed in accordance with the invention and reference to the accompanying drawings thereof, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the dispensing device showing the front side thereof;

FIGURE 2 is another perspective view of the dispensing device showing the rear side thereof;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIGURE 1; and,

FIGURE 4 is a schematic illustration of the flow circuit of the dispensing device.

Referring now to the drawings, the dispensing device includes a base 11 having a horizontal deck 12, from whose opposite sides depend longitudinal vertical flanges 13 and 14 provided at their bottom edges with inwardly extending horizontal flanges 15 and 16, respectively. The flanges rigidity and strengthen the deck.

handle.

A wheel shaft 18 extends through suitable aligned apertures in the vertical flanges 13 and 14 and is secured to the vertical flanges in any suitable manner. A pair of wheels 19 and Zll are rotatably mounted on opposite ends of the shaft which extend outwardly of the vertical flanges. The shaft and wheels are located adjacent the rear end of the base. One or more feet 22, depend from the deck at its front end to support the front end of the base. The feet are rigidly secured to the deck in any suitable way, as by welding.

A substantially U-shaped handle 24 is secured to the rear end of the base by means of upwardly opening sockets 25 and 26, welded to the base, into which are telescopable the lower end portions of the upwardly and rearwardly convergent legs 27 and 28, respectively, of the The upper ends of the legs are connected by a transverse connecting or handle portion 29.

It will be apparentthat the base may be pivoted about the axis of rotation of the wheels by a downward force exerted on the handle to raise its front end and disengage the front foot 22 from engagement with the ground so that the base will then be supported only on the wheels and can be easily rolled from one location to another.

A rear wall 3t extends vertically upwardly from the base 11 and is rigidly secured thereto as by welding. The lower end or skirt portion 31 of the rear wall extends at an angle rearwardly and downwardly between the sockets to conceal the shaft.

A storage tank 33 is mounted on the deck 12 adjacent the rear wall by means of bolts 34 which extend through suitable adjacent apertures in the deck and the outwardly extending annular bottom flange 35 of the storage tank.

A rigid conduit or pipe 37 extends through the tank adjacent its upper end. The rear end portion of the conduit 37 extends rearwardly through a suitable aperture of the rear wall and has connected thereto, by a suitable fitting 38, an inlet valve 3?. The inlet end of the valve has a suitable fitting 40 by means of which one end of a flexible conduit, such as a hose, may be connected. The other end of such hose is connected to any suitable source of water, such as the usual water supply system of a city.

The other or outlet end of the rigid conduit 37 is connected by a flexible conduit or hose 42 to one inlet end portion 43 of a T-coupling 44. The opposite end portions of the hose are telescoped over the conduit 37 and the inlet end portion 43 and are secured thereto by suitable clamps 45.

The rigid conduit has a branch conduit 46 whose flow passage 47 opens to the longitudinal flow passage 48 of the rigid conduit and to the interior of the storage tank adjacent the top 49. The branch conduit passage 47 is of substantially smaller orifice than the rigid conduit passage 48. The branch conduit curves upwardly, then downwardly, and then again upwardly to make its flow passage 47 relatively long.

The top portion of the tank is welded as at 50 on the lower end portion. The top portion has a tubular inlet 51 which is closable by a closure or cap 52 threaded thereon. The storage tank adjacent its bottom has an outlet 53 connected to the inlet 54 of a valve 55. The outlet 56 of the valve 55 is connected by a flexible hose 58 to the inlet end portion 59 of the coupling 44. The hose 58 is secured to the valve and the coupling by suitable clamps 45. i

The valve 55 is movable between its open and closed positions by an operator rod 60 which extends rotatably through a gauge plate 61 and is provided at its upper end with a handle 62 whose pointed end 63 cooperates with indicia of the gauge plate to indicate the position of the valve. The gauge plate has a downward tubular guide extension 64 for the rod. The lower end portion of the operator rod is rectangular in cross-section and extends 55 into a recess of similar configuration in the upper end of the usual rotatable member (not shown) of the valve.

The storage tank may also be provided with a drain outlet 65 at its bottom.

The outlet end portion 66 of the coupling 44 is conne-cted by a suitable fitting 67 to the inlet of a pump 69 rigidly mounted on the deck 12 by bolts 70 which extend through suitable apertures in the deck and the pump base 72. The pump is driven by an electric motor 75, mounted on the deck by means of bolts 76, whose drive shaft 77 is connected to the shaft 78 of the pump by a belt and pulley transmission consisting of the belt 79 and the pulleys 8t and S1 rigidly secured to the motor and pump shafts 77 and 78, respectively.

' A flexible conduit or hose 94 is connected to the forward extension 88 by a suitable fitting and its other end is connected to a nozzle 97 through which the liquid pumped by the pump 69 is expelled. A cover 100 ineludes a pair of side walls 1M and 102 and extends over the front and rear walls and on opposite sides of the vertical flanges of the base. The side walls are provided with suitable slots 1&3 to receive the outer end portions of the Wheel shaft 18. The side walls are secured to the vertical flanges as by screws 194. The cover also includes a top wall 105, integral with the side walls, which has a rectangular opening 106 about which extends a rectangular frame 198 rigidly secured, as by welding, to the top wall. A closure plate 110 is positionable in the frame and on the horizontal flange 111 thereof of the frame to close the rectangular opening 106. The closure plate, of course, has a suitable aperture through which the tubular extension 69' of the gauge plate extends, the gauge plate being rigidly secured as by welding to the upper surface of the closure plate.

The filler duct 51 of the storage tank 33 extends upwardly through a suitable aperture in the top wall and through a suitable grommet or gasket 112.

In use, the storage tank is filled with a liquid detergent to a level below the upper free end of the branch conduit 46 and the cap 51 is then screwed on the tank inlet 51. The inlet end of the water valve 39 is then connected by suitable flexible hose to a source of water such as the usual water system of a city which provides water under pressure. The dispensing device may then he moved to any desired location of use, for example, to wash an automobile. The valve 39 is opened, the motor 75 is connected to a source of electric current and a stream of water of high velocity is expelled through the nozzle 97. The jet or stream of water from the nozzle can be easily directed to various parts of the automobile since the nozzle is connected to the outlet of the pump through the'flexible hose 94. The detergent from the storage tank is not now being added to the water since the valve 55 is closed.

If it is now desired to wash the automobile with a solution of water and detergent, the handle 62 is rotated to cause the operator rod 60 to open the valve to any desired degree. The water in the conduit passage 4-3 is at a higher than atmospheric pressure since the conduit 37 is connected to a source of water under pressure, and as the pressure at the outlet 53 of the tank is now decreased due to the action of the pump 69, water will flow into the upper end of the tank through the branch duct as detergent flows from the lower end of the tank through the valve 55 to the coupling 44 and thence to the inlet of the pump. As the water flowing from the conduit 37 and the detergent from the tank are moved through the pump, they are thoroughly mixed and the solution of water and detergent is expelled through the nozzle 97.

If it is thereafter desired to rinse the automobile with plain water, the valve 55 is again closed and only water will be moved by the pump through the nozzle 97 because the branch duct opens above the top surface of the detergent in the tank. In addition, since the tank is closed no air will flow from the tank into the conduit. The long passage 47 tends to prevent any accidental or reverse flow of detergent from the tank into the passage 48 of the tank through the passage 47 of the branch conduit even during any surges or accidental displacement of the detergent in the tank since the branch duct is filled with water.

In addition, the relatively long passage 47 of small orifice prevents surges in the how of water into the tank and thus permits gradual changes in the rate of flow of detergent from the tank as the degree of closure of the valve is raised.

It will now be seen that a new and improved dispensing apparatus has been illustrated and described for forcibly dispensing a liquid, such as Water or a solution of water and detergent, through a nozzle whereby the device may be used to wash an object such as a vehicle with a solution of water and detergent and then be used to rinse the device with water only.

It will further be seen that the water and detergent are thoroughly mixed prior to the injection of the solution through the nozzle 97 since the detergent and the water flow are moved through the pump 69.

It will further be seen that a new and improved dispensing device which is of simple economical construction and which is easily moved from one location to another.

It will further be seen that the provision of the rigid conduit 37 extending through the storage tank permits the branch conduit to be located in the tank where it is protected against damage and also permits a very compact strong design of the tank and the means for dispensing detergent from the tank.

It will also be seen that the ratio of detergent to water may be easily regulated by varying the degree of closure of the valve 55 and that the detergent is forced from the tank due to both the force of the pressure of the water in the passage 48 of the conduit 37 communicated to the top of the tank through the passage 47 of the branch duct 46 and the pump action of the pump 69, and that water from the passage 48 flows into the tank to replace the detergent flowing from the tank to prevent decrease of pressure in the tank.

It will be apparent that, while the dispensing device has been described as used to wash vehicles, it may also be used to wash other objects such as windows, floors, driveways, and the like, to spray vegetation with insecticides, and in general to spray a mixture or solution of any type on any surface or object.

The foregoing description of the invention is explanatory only, and changes in the details of the construction illustrated may be made by those skilled in the art, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A dispensing device including: a base; a pump having inlet and outlet means mounted on said base; a motor for driving said pump mounted on said base; a storage tank mounted on said base; conduit means extending through said tank and connected at one end thereof to said inlet means of said pump, the other end of said conduit means being connectable to a source of liquid, said conduit means having a longitudinal passage; a branch duct in said tank having a flow passage communicating at one end with said flow passage of said conduit means and at its other end with said tank adjacent the upper end of said tank, said flow passage being of smaller orifice than said longitudinal passage; and duct means connecting the lower end of said storage tank with said inlet means of said pump, said last mentioned duct means having valve means for controlling flow of fluid from said storage tank to said pump inlet means, said inlet means of said pump being spaced below the level of liquid in said tank.

5 6 2. The dispensing device of claim 1 wherein said 2,608,439 8/1952 Bates et a1 239-310 X branch duct has one end rigidly secured to said conduit 2,944,561 7/1960 Sellati 222-133 X means and is arcuate whereby its other end is positioned 3,017,118 1/1962 Kane 239373 X adjacent the upper end of the tank and said branch duct 3,060,956 10/1962 Menzie 239-3 10 X is of substantial length, 5 3,118,610 1/1964 Techler 222136 X 3,178,157 4/1965 Cole 222136 X References Cited by the Exammer FOREIGN PATENTS UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,045,703 12/1958 Germany. 1,004,700 10/1911 Sites 239-310 X Pungs X 10 M. IR Primary Examm r- 2,309,247 1/1943 Johnson 239-373 X EVERETT W. KIRBY, Examiner. 

1. A DISPENSING DEVICE INCLUDING: A BASE; A PUMP HAVING INLET AND OUTLET MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID BASE; A MOTOR FOR DRIVING SAID PUMP MOUNTED ON SAID BASE; A STORAGE TANK MOUNTED ON SAID BASE; CONDUIT MEANS EXTENDING THROUGH SAID TANK AND CONNECTED AT ONE END THEREOF TO SAID INLET MEANS OF SAID PUMP, THE OTHER END OF SAID CONDUIT MEANS BEING CONNECTABLE TO A SOURCE OF LIQUID, SAID CONDUIT MEANS HAVING A LONGITUDINAL PASSAGE; A BRANCH DUCT IN SAID TANK HAVING A FLOW PASSAGE COMMUNICATING AT ONE END WITH SAID FLOW PASSAGE OF SAID CONDUIT MEANS AND AT ITS OTHER END WITH SAID TANK ADJACENT THE UPPER END OF SAID TANK, SAID FLOW PASSAGE BEING OF SMALLER ORIFICE THAN SAID LONGITUDINAL PASSAGE; AND DUCT MEANS CONNECTING THE LOWER END OF SAID STORAGE TANK WITH SAID INLET MEANS OF SAID PUMP, SAID LAST MENTIONED DUCT MEANS HAVING VALVE MEANS FOR CONTROLLING FLOW OF FLUID FROM SAID STORAGE TANK TO SAID PUMP INLET MEANS, SAID INLET MEANS OF SAID PUMP BEING SPACED BELOW THE LEVEL OF LIQUID IN SAID TANK. 